Commuters should prepare for higher fares on the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1) starting April 2, 2025, as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has approved an increase in the railway system’s fare matrix.
The fare adjustment was announced by LRT1’s private concessionaire, Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), on Tuesday. According to LRMC, the revised fare structure, approved by the DOTr’s Rail Regulatory Unit, will take effect in early April.
A notice dated February 14, 2025, signed by Railways Undersecretary Jeremy Regino, confirmed the DOTr’s approval of the new fare formula for LRT1. Under the revised rates, the current boarding fee of ₱13.29 will increase to ₱16.25, while the per-kilometer charge will rise from ₱1.21 to ₱1.47. As a result, the maximum fare for a full-length single journey will increase from ₱45 to ₱55.
The fare hike follows a public hearing conducted by the DOTr in December 2024 to review LRMC’s petition for an adjustment. Per regulations, LRMC is required to publish the new fare structure at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation before implementation.
Justification for the Fare Increase
LRMC CEO Enrico Benipayo defended the fare adjustment by highlighting improvements in LRT1’s operations since the private sector took over in 2015. He cited key achievements, including:
- An 87% increase in operational light rail vehicles, from 77 to 144.
- Close to 100% system reliability, punctuality, and availability on a daily and monthly basis.
Benipayo also pointed out that despite being entitled to fare adjustments every two years, LRMC has only implemented one fare hike since taking over the LRT1 concession. The company had filed fare adjustment petitions in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022, but all were deferred.
Addressing the Fare Deficit
Due to the repeated deferrals, LRMC reported a ₱2.17 billion fare deficit as of November 2024. If no fare increase is granted until 2028, LRMC projects the deficit could reach ₱7 billion, with an additional ₱4.9 billion in losses over the next three years.
Benipayo argued that implementing the fare adjustment would prevent the government from shouldering additional fare deficits, allowing public funds to be redirected to other priority projects.
With the fare increase now approved, LRT1 commuters should prepare for the higher rates when the changes take effect in April.